A Memorable Fancy 5

(plates 22-24)

Once I saw a Devil in a flame of fire. Who arose before an angel that sat

on a cloud, and the devil utter'd these words: 'The worship of God is:

honouring His gifts in other men. Each according to his genius, and loving

the greatest men best: those who envy or caluminate great men hate God;

for there is no other God, ' The angel hearing this became almost blue,

but mastering himself grew yellow.& at last white, pink,& smiling, and

then replied: 'Thou idolater, is not God one? & Is not He visible in

Jesus Christ? And has not Jesus Christ given his sanction to the law of

ten commandments, and are not all other men fools, sinners & nothings? '

The devil answer'd: 'Bray a fool in a mother with wheat. Yet shall not his

folly be beaten out of him; if Jesus Christ is the greatest man, you ought

to love him in the greatest degree; now hear how He has given His sanction

to the law of ten commandments: did He not mock at the Sabbath, and so

mock the sabbath's god? Murder those who were murdered because of Him?

Turn away the law from the woman taken in adultery? Steal the labour of

others to support him? Bear false witness when He omitted making a defence

before Pilate? Covet when He pray'd for His disciples, and when He bid

them shake off the dust of their feet against such as refused to lodge

them? I tell you, no virtue can exist without breaking these ten

commandments. Jesus was all virtue, and acted from impulse, not from

rules! When He had so spoken, I beheld the angel who stretched out his

arms, embracing the flame of fire & he was consumed and arose as Elijah.

Note: this angel who is now become a devil, is my particular friend; we

often read the bible together in its infernal or diabolical sense which

the world shall have if they behave well. I have also the bible of hell,

which the world shall have whether they will or no. One law for the lion &

ox is oppression.